included such durable goods as household appliances and radios and
television sets, than they did in 1962. Changes in proportionate
expenditures for other nonessentials during the 1960s reflected the
income differences and taste preferences of the different social
categories as well as their rural or urban residence.

The largest share of consumer expenditures in 1971 went for food,
ranging from 42.5 percent of total expenditures for peasants to 38.8
percent of total expenditures for white-collar workers (see table 3).
In calculating expenditures for food, the value of food production for
personal consumption was included. The relative share of expenditures on
food has been dropping since 1962. At the same time, the quality of the
diet for all population groups has improved.

_Table 3. Bulgaria, Percentage Distribution of Household Expenditures by
Population Group, 1962 and 1971_

---------------------+---------------+---------------+-------------------
| Blue Collar | White Collar | Co-op Farm Member
Item +-------+-------+-------+-------+---------+---------
| 1962 | 1971 | 1962 | 1971 | 1962 | 1971
---------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+---------+---------
Food | 46.0 | 42.3 | 44.6 | 38.8 | 46.3 | 42.5
Alcoholic beverages | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 6.3 | 5.1
Tobacco | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.3
Clothing | 13.6 | 11.4 | 14.7 | 11.3 | 13.6 | 10.3
Housing | 9.9 | 8.7 | 7.9 | 11.4 | 9.6 | 8.8
Household furnishings| 3.5 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 5.0
Culture and | | | | | |
entertainment | 4.3 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 5.4
Health and hygiene | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.7
Communication and | | | | | |
transportation | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 1.7
Taxes and fees | 5.4 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 7.0 | 1.3 | 2.0
Other | 8.2 | 11.1 | 7.7 | 9.1 | 12.3 | 16.2
| | | | | |
TOTAL | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0
---------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+---------+---------
Source: Adapted from _Statistical Yearbook, 1